Alphabets of Africa

GHAIs^A

PHONEMES AND ORTHOGRAPHIC SYMBOLS

KUSAL (GUR)

/p/

P

/b/

b

A/

t

/d/

d

/k/

k

/g/

g

/kp/

kp

/gb

gb

/■^z

/i/

i

A/

i

/e/

e

/8/

e

/m/
/n/

/w/

nw

/a/

/f/
/v/
/s/
/z/
A/
/r/
/h/
/w/

/y/

Ai/
/u/
/o/
hi

The tense/lax distinction is not marked, but it is taught in the primer on request
from government agencies.

fv-l
rvf

Tones:

VV

Vn (tense vowels only; nn when in contrast to Vn)

Tone is not marked. By marking long vowels, glottal and
nasalization, almost all homographs are avoided.

EXAMPLES

a

amaa

but

b

ba

they

d

daam

corn beer

e

bedego

many, much

f

faar

inheritance

9

gag

to choose

gb

gbigim

lion

h

hale

greatly

i

isig

rise early

k

kaas

to cry out

kp

kpi

to die

1

lo

to tie

m

maa!

to make

n

na'as

to show respect

ny

nyaiima

wonderful

5

yu'urj

night

nw

nwiig

rope

yo

to shut

r

yu'ur

name

s

saam

father

t

t

tans

to shout

u

ugus

to nurture

V

vol

to swallow

w

wan

calabash

y

ya'as

again

z

ziim

blood

'

ba'a

responsibility

Keywords selected in minimal sets

to indicate fun

Jtional load.

ba

they

(short V)

baa

dog

(long V)

ba'

father

(glottal)

ba'a

concern

(glottal)

ba'as

hanging

peg (glottal)

ban'

to ride

(nasalisation
and glottal)

i baans chain

(nasalisation

and V:)

ALPHABET

abdefggbh
w y z '

k kp 1 m n ny g nw o p r s t u v

number of graphemes 28

Alphabets of Afrtea

edited by

Published by UNESCO Regional Office in Dakar (D1<£DA) .
12, Avenue Roume, B.P 3311, Dakar, Senegal

Rhonda L. Hartell isbn : 92-9091-020-3 © unesco 1993

Printed by BREDA Press

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